WPPI - Wedding & Portrait Photographers Int'l 2027
Event Date
February 28 – March 4, 2027
Location
Las Vegas, NV
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryWPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) is a five-day photography conference and expo held annually in Las Vegas. Every year, portrait and wedding photographers from around the world gather in Las Vegas to be inspired and grow together — it's more than a conference, it's a community where you can evolve your artistic style, learn business strategies, and connect with fellow creatives.
The event pairs an intensive education program with a bustling expo floor. Attendees can expect five days of immersive education, learning directly from expert speakers covering everything from lighting techniques to business growth strategies. On the show floor, photographers can demo new gear, software, and services in person from the companies that make them.
WPPI is designed for anyone passionate about photography — portrait, wedding, boudoir, families, babies, children, seniors, fashion, all genres — whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out. With education, networking, and after-hours events all in one place, it's a marquee gathering for working photographers looking to move their craft and their business forward.
Show Highlights
Key features of WPPI include:
- Education program: Seminars, workshops, and hands-on classes on lighting, posing, pricing, marketing, AI tools, and business growth for working photographers.
- The WPPI Expo: A show floor of gear, software, and service providers ready to demo in person.
- Photo Walks & Summits: Available as add-on experiences alongside the main conference.
- The Icon Awards and the annual Print Competition, longstanding WPPI traditions.
- Curated shooting bays across the show floor primed with the latest gear, featuring styled models to photograph in a variety of lighting situations, with hands-on instruction.
- The WPPI Lounge and Stage, offering education from exhibitors, sponsors, and WPPI editors, plus a space to network with editors, speakers, and other attendees.
- Mentor Sessions — 1-on-1 sessions to discuss business-building questions, marketing and branding, pricing, and packages.
Attendance
Historical figures (WPPI 2016) illustrate the show's scale at its peak: WPPI hosted nearly 13,000 photographers from 73 countries — the largest international participation in its history at the time — and 257 manufacturers of hardware, software, and photographic services covered more than 72,000 square feet of expo space. That year, 170 educators conducted more than 250 classes, seminars, and photo walks. Note that these are historical numbers; the organizers have not published confirmed attendance figures for the 2027 edition.
Registration
Registration is handled online, with several pass types plus optional add-ons.
- A presale Full Conference Pass has been offered at $99, the lowest advertised rate.
- The registration portal for Expo Only, Full Conference, Photo Walks, Summits, and all add-ons opens mid-October 2026.
- On-site registration is available at the "Register Here" counters during registration hours, though on-site fees are higher.
- Student/Educator and Military discounts are available — select the "student/educator/military" option during registration and upload credentials for approval.
- WPPI provides visa invitation letters upon request; once registration is complete, a visa letter is automatically generated, and registration details must exactly match your passport.
History
WPPI is a long-running fixture in the professional photography calendar. Each year for five days, portrait and wedding photographers from around the world gather in Las Vegas to be inspired and grow together. As of 2016, WPPI had served photographers for 36 years as the destination to meet peers, learn the latest imaging techniques and business acumen, and see new hardware, software, and services from manufacturers worldwide. It is one of the biggest photography conferences in the world; after COVID the show struggled to make a comeback, but it has rebuilt and continues to strengthen each year. The event is produced by Emerald X, LLC.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is WPPI 2027 taking place?
WPPI 2027 runs Sunday, February 28 through Thursday, March 4, 2027, at the Rio Hotel & Casino, 3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103. The expo show floor is open Tuesday, March 2 through Thursday, March 4.
Who should attend WPPI?
WPPI is built for photographers of all experience levels working in portrait, wedding, boudoir, family, newborn, senior, and fashion photography, from seasoned professionals to newcomers. It is a professional trade event focused on education, community, and gear discovery.
How do I register and how much does it cost?
Registration opens online in mid-October 2026 for Expo Only, Full Conference, Photo Walks, Summits, and add-ons. A presale Full Conference Pass has been offered at $99, and on-site registration is available at the Register Here counters, though on-site fees are higher.
What are the WPPI Expo show floor hours?
The expo is scheduled to be open Tuesday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 3, 2027 from 11am to 4:30pm, and Thursday, March 4, 2027 from 11am to 3pm. These times may change closer to the show.
How do I get to the venue and is parking available?
The Rio Hotel & Casino is about 4.5 miles from Harry Reid International Airport, easily reached by taxi or rideshare, and served by RTC bus routes 104 and 202. The Rio offers free self-parking in two covered garages and oversize lots, plus complimentary valet when space allows.
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